DEER FARMING IN GERMANY
Fallow deer farming started in 1972 at the Haus Riswick Research Station of the Landwirtschaftskammer Rheinland. The aim was to develop healthy animals for ecological use as an alternative to cattle and sheep on grassland.
Today there are nearly 4000 farms in Germany with 176000 deer (nearly 50% does), 95% Fallow deer, with Red and Sika deer. The average size of the farm is 2.4 hectares. The main regions for Fallow deer farming are Bavaria and Northrhine- Westfalia. Nearly 11500 hectares are devoted to deer farming.
To farm deer in the Federal Republic of Germany still requires a licence. The criteria laid down by the Federal Ministry are as follows: the minimum size is one hectare; it is prohibited to include wood in the farm area; normally eight to ten does per hectare and slaughter on the farm is allowed. Carcases are controlled by meat inspection and stamped. There is mostly home marketing with relatively high prices for fresh meat with top quality from 14-18 month old young animals.
GERMAN DEER FARMERS ASSOCIATION
The Federal German Association "Bundesbank für landwirtschaftliche Wildhaltung" - BLW- was founded in 1980, the first regional association in 1978. The 11 regional members in the different areas of the Federal Republic of Germany, representing about 1500 members with mostly small farms around 2-3 Ha, are independent. Since 1984 the magazine"Landwirtschaftliche Wildhaltung" has been published four times a year, now six times.
The Federal Association contacts the government, differetn ministries, the German Farmer's Association "Deutcher Bauernverband" and is a member of FEDFA. Each province has special advisers for deer farming, and holds conferences and courses for different subjects.
RESEARCH
The first pilot farms were started in 1994 in Northrhine. In Haus Riswick, in the Research Station in Grub/Bavaria, and in some university institutes difference trials are carried out about fencing, feeding, handling, behaviour, marking, twin breeding, domestication, ability of Sika and White-tailed deer, lighting og calves, killing, meat and leather quality, illness and economics. Books and other information about Fallow deer farming are published by the Bundesbank für Landwirtschaftliche Wildhaltung(BLW), Bonn. A list can be ordered from BLW (fax: + 49 228 371850)
MARKETING
Whole consumption of venison in the Federal Republic of Germany is about 33000 tonnes annually, 0.6 kg per head. The home production of all venison is about 16000 tonnes (wild boar meat about 10000 tonnes, Red deer venison about 2900 tonnes, Fallow deer venison about 1000 tonnes) of which about 1800 tonnes are farmed - mostly-Fallow deer meat. The imports are about 17000 tonnes (12000 tonnes red deer venison and farmed game meat) mainly from New Zealand, Poland and CSFR. Imports from Eastern Europe are increasing, and at low prices.
DEVELOPMENT
For twenty years Fallow deer farming in Germany has been the agricultural system that makes the most ecological use of grassland without subsidies for a growing market. This top product is very healthy, of excellent taste and quality, without contamination by chemicals and drugs, correctly slaughtered and cooled. The consumer is able to look for the animals he wants on the farm and finds "grassy farms" in his region. An expansion of deer farming is therefore possible and desirable.
(1998)